# Sign Regulations in Ocean, New Jersey

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Ocean, New Jersey, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Ocean, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/ocean
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21

## At a glance

Ocean, New Jersey regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Sign (40 sq ft face)s in the 34th Street Gateway Zone zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 40 sq ft, and 15 ft wide, with a Not within 1.5x sign height of ROW/parking/pedestrian; not within 30' of another monument sign; not within sight triangle. setback (Sec. §25-205.10.10(a)(2), (b), (d), (e), (g)-(j)). Most commercial signs in Ocean require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones, Commercial Zones, Nonresidential Zones, General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 30 inches | 24 sq ft | — |
| 34th Street Gateway Zone | 3 | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Conservation Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Beaches and Dunes | 1 | — | — | — |
| On-Boardwalk Zone | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 24 ft or building height, whichever is lower | 120 sq ft or 5% front wall area, whichever is less | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential Zones, Commercial Zones, Nonresidential Zones, General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 3 sq ft (one sign per dwelling unit) | — | — | 1 per unit, up to 1 per street-facing side on corner lot | Attached to building or within 1 ft of building, parallel to road; for vacant land: near center of lot | — | §4-39.4(a)-(f); §25-1700.29.7(g)(1)-(2) |
| Real Estate Open House Directional Sign | 30 inches | 3 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property | Two per open house, must be at different intersections; one per corner; signs must not block/protrude over sidewalk/driveway; not on Gardens Parkway, 9th St, 34th St, or 55th St | — | §4-39.4(i); §25-1700.29.7(g)(1)(h) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction site | On temporary utility pole during construction; attached to building once siding/material applied | — | §4-39.5(a); §25-1700.29.7(g)(2) |
| Candidate/Political Sign (Residential Zones) | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On private property | — | §4-39.5(b); §25-1700.29.7(g)(3) |
| Candidate/Political Sign (Nonresidential Zones) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | §4-39.5(b); §25-1700.29.7(g)(3) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Charitable/Religious) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft (at event site), 12 sq ft (elsewhere) | — | — | — | Flat against building or freestanding at location of event; elsewhere: as above | — | §25-1700.29.6(m); §25-1700.29.7(g)(7) |
| Temporary Commercial Sign (Banner/Window) | — | See formula; banners max 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to wall or window of commercial premises | — | §25-1700.29.7(g)(6) |
| Help Wanted Window Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Inside window | — | §25-1700.29.7(g)(4) |

### 34th Street Gateway Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (40 sq ft face) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | 15 ft | Not within 1.5x sign height of ROW/parking/pedestrian; not within 30' of another monument sign; not within sight triangle. | One per frontage for business; if in shopping center/office with multiple businesses, one sign per frontage for complex, must advertise all businesses. | Within landscaped private property of business/shopping center; not within 30 ft of another monument sign; not closer to ROW/pedestrian/parking than 1.5x sign height. Preferable near ingress/egress, not inside sight triangle. | — | §25-205.10.10(a)(2), (b), (d), (e), (g)-(j) |
| Monument Sign (60 sq ft face) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | 20 ft | Not within 1.5x sign height of ROW/parking/pedestrian; not within 30' of another monument sign; not within sight triangle. | One per frontage for business; if in shopping center/office with multiple businesses, one sign per frontage for complex, must advertise all businesses. | Within landscaped private property of business/shopping center; not within 30 ft of another monument sign; not closer to ROW/pedestrian/parking than 1.5x sign height. Preferable near ingress/egress, not inside sight triangle. | — | §25-205.10.10(a)(2), (b), (d), (e), (g)-(j) |
| Window, Wall, and Awning Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §25-205.10.10; §25-1700.29.1–.29.7 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Quasi-Public Religious use) | 24 ft or building height, whichever is lower | 120 sq ft or 5% front wall area, whichever is less | — | Min 4 ft from property line | One per frontage | No closer than 4 ft to property line, base must be landscaped | — | §25-207.2.18 |
| Ground Sign (Quasi-Public Religious use) | 6 ft | 120 sq ft or 5% of front wall area, whichever is less | — | Min 4 ft from property lines | One per frontage | At least 4 ft from all property lines | — | §25-207.2.18 |
| Wall Sign (Quasi-Public Religious use) | — | 120 sq ft or 5% of front wall area | — | — | — | — | — | §25-207.2.18 |

## Prohibited signs in Ocean

- Electronic message signs are prohibited.
- Animated, blinking, flashing, moving or revolving signs are prohibited, except in the On-Boardwalk Zone, provided they face only East, North or South and do not face residential zones or structures.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees or utility poles are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle is prohibited except for those vehicles actively used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate.
- Banners are prohibited, except where permitted herein.
- Pennants are prohibited, except where permitted herein.
- Internally lit vinyl awnings are prohibited, except in the On-Boardwalk Zone.
- Moving or revolving signs and signs using blinking, flashing, vibrating, pulsating, flickering, or tracer lighting are prohibited, except in the On-Boardwalk Zone providing these signs only face east, north or south, and do not face residential zones or structures.
- Corrugated plastic, retail merchandise and similar materials are considered substandard and unacceptable for outdoor sign materials (poster materials are permitted for temporary signs only).

## Signs exempt from permit in Ocean

- Nonilluminated directional signs identifying parking areas, loading zones, entrances, exits, and similar locations not exceeding three (3) square feet and without advertising message are exempt and do not require a permit.
- Temporary and permanent traffic signs and signals installed by the City, County or State for the purpose of directing and regulating the flow of traffic are exempt.
- Signs indicating public transportation stops when installed by the City or a public transportation utility are exempt.
- Historical tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques and emblems which do not exceed six (6) square feet in area and which are installed by government, public, nonprofit, civil, or religious organizations are exempt.
- Warning and no-trespassing signs, not exceeding three (3) square feet in area, are exempt.
- Flags or emblems of religious, educational, civic, or governmental organizations, and the American flag flown in accordance with Federal or State requirements, are exempt.
- Name and number plates identifying residents and affixed to a house, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding one and one-half (1 1/2) square feet, are exempt.
- Lawn signs identifying residents, not exceeding one and one-half (1 1/2) square feet per side, without advertising message and not illuminated except by lamp post if used as a support, are exempt.
- Signs posted by governmental agencies or pursuant to governmental statute, order or regulation are exempt.
- Signs which are an integral part of vending machines, including gasoline pumps and milk machines, are exempt.
- Temporary signs or other advertising materials attached to a window that are removed at the expiration of the event/sale for which it was erected or posted are exempt.
- Temporary signs for public functions or fund raising events for charitable or religious organizations, limited in size and time to 30 days prior to and during the event and removed within 5 days after are exempt, provided size and height limits are met.
- Official traffic, parking, and street signs; trespassing signs; signs indicating private ownership of roadways or other private property; nonilluminated directional signs (as above) are exempt.
- Miscellaneous signs authorized by the Chief of Police are exempt.
- Signs installed by or at the direction of the municipality upon public streets, roads, sidewalks, and rights-of-way or other real property owned or controlled by the municipality are exempt.
- Decorative or informational flags such as "open" or "welcome," limited to one per business and not in the right-of-way, do not require a permit.
- Information signs regarding hours of operation, credit cards accepted, attached to a building/window/door with letters/numbers not exceeding four inches in height, do not require a permit.
- Neon "open" signs limited to two (2) square feet or less do not require a permit.
- One changeable copy sign, such as a menu board, per 20 feet of store frontage, on the front wall adjacent to the store entrance, and not greater than four (4) square feet do not require a permit.
- Signs identifying a resident's name and/or street number, limited to one and one-half (1 1/2) square feet, do not require a permit.
- Temporary signs for real estate (For Sale or Rent), temporary contractor identification, candidate or political signs, yard/garage sale signs, event posters, and temporary commercial banners/advertising (when limited in size, quantity, placement, and duration as specifically outlined in the ordinance) do not require a permit.
- Temporary signs for advertising public functions or fund raising events for charitable or religious organizations (when meeting specified criteria) do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Several zoning provisions (such as §25-205.1A.9, §25-205.2.9, §25-205.5.9, §25-205.8.14, §25-205.9.7, and §25-207.2.15) direct compliance with §25-1700.29 which contains sign regulations, and may require detailed plans as part of the zone/site plan approval process.
- Monument signs in the 34th Street Gateway Zone must be approved during the site plan approval process.
- Where a business operates within a shopping center or office building, a monument sign must provide for each individual business/profession, and is subject to site plan approval.
- Nonconforming signs which are to be restored or replaced require prior written approval of the Zoning Officer; photographic documentation may be required.
- Changing or maintenance of movable parts or components or copy, business names, or display of a nonconforming sign requires prior written approval from the Zoning Officer, with photographic documentation possibly required.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Ocean — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ocean+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ocean

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